Many people when they meet the meerkat wonder if it is possible that this is a pet as well as a wild animal. The truth is that meerkats are small carnivorous mammals that live in semi-desert areas that surround the Kalahari and Namibia deserts.
They belong to the same family as mongooses, the Herpestidae, and live in highly socialized colonies of several individuals, which highlights that they like to live in a community.
Because it is not an endangered mammal, people wonder, can I have a pet meerkat? our site goes on to answer these questions in this article by the meerkat as a pet.
Domestic meerkats
The truth is that due to their sociable nature, meerkats can be adopted as pets, but yes, under strict and particular conditions.
As they live in colonies, you should never adopt a single meerkat: At least one pair must be adopted of them. If a lone specimen is adopted, although it may initially be affectionate while young, as it grows older it will become aggressive and can become somewhat aggressive offering very painful bites.
They are very territorial animals, and if another small mammal of the same species is subsequently introduced into the home, it is very possible that they will fight and become seriously aggressive.
Preparation of the place for meerkats
Meerkats are very sensitive to low temperatures and humidity since they come from pre-desert climates and can't even stand the cold or excessive moisture. Therefore, meerkats can only live comfortably with people who have an arid garden and a large area. In addition, the perimeter should be fenced with metal mesh. A rainfed habitat will be more suitable than a more humid one.
It is unacceptable brutality to permanently enclose a meerkat in a cage: never consider keeping him as a pet if you intend to enclose him permanently. People who consider adopting this unique animal should do so out of love for animals and to allow them to live freely enjoying their natural behavior.
Another thing is to locate a large covered cage or shed in the garden, with the door permanently open so that they can come and go at willand make it your lair. In your private residence you should put the food and water, and add chips or sand on the ground so that the meerkat sleeps at night.
If we have resources we can even create a natural looking nest or cave so that the animals feel really comfortable in their new habitat.
Meerkat Customs
Meerkats love to take long sunbaths. They are very active beings that drill underground galleries, so there is always the possibility that they can escape under the fence.
If someone were to consider having two of these mammals loose in their apartment, be aware that it would be like having a crazy demolition team in their home, it is something terrible and distressing for the animal that does not must be done in no case. The destruction caused to the furniture caused by cats with their rogue claws will be nothing compared to the total destruction that some locked meerkats can cause.
As we have mentioned, it is an animal that should only be adopted in certain situations, if we have a suitable habitat and if we think of its personal benefit before ours. We must not be selfish and adopt an animal that we are not going to be able to care for properly.
Feeding domestic meerkats
80% of the meerkats' diet can be the highest quality food intended for cats. It will be necessary to combine dry feed with wet feed.
Another 10% should be fresh fruits and vegetables: tomato, apple, pear, lettuce, green beans and zucchini. The remaining 10% of their feed should be live insects, mice, eggs, and day-old chicks.
Citrus must not be provided
They also need fresh water every day served in two types of container: the first will be a drinking bowl or saucepan as usual for cats. The second will be a bottle-type device, like the one used for rabbits.
Meerkats at the vet
Meerkats require rabies and distemper vaccinations, similar to ferrets. If the exotics specialist veterinarian considers it convenient, later he will tell us if it is necessary to administer any more vaccines.
We also emphasize as responsible owners of the animal's life that it is essential to introduce the chip just like ferrets.
The average lifespan of meerkats in captivity ranges from 7 - 15 years, depending on how we treat these cute little mammals.
Interaction with other animals
Really Speculating on relationships is a lottery We have already mentioned that these mammals are tremendously territorial, therefore they can get along with our dogs and cats, or can be brought to slaughter. If the dog or the cat are at home before the arrival of our meerkats, coexistence between both species will be more viable.
Meerkats are very active and playful, if they get along with the other pets you can enjoy very funny moments watching them at their games. However, if they get along badly: remember that it is like a small mongoose, which means that it is not afraid of anything and will not be afraid of a mastiff or any other dog, no matter how big it is. In the wild they face poisonous snakes and scorpions, winning most of the time.
Interaction with humans
It is essential that you adopt this beautiful animal from approved farms, shelters or care centers for animals from circuses or zoos. It is basic to say that never adopt wild meerkats, they would suffer a lot (and could die) and that you would never manage to tame them and get their affection.
Having said that, if you can always choose very young specimens that will adapt better to you and your other pets.
If you do it right and their habitat is ideal, they are very playful and affectionate animals that will want to play with you, or that you scratch their belly until they fall asleep in your arms. In addition, the fact that they are diurnal animals means that during the night they will not cause a disturbance, as other pets with twilight habits do.
A final piece of advice is that all people who wish to adopt a meerkat should be well informed and provide their new member of the family with the attention that she deserves and requires. We must not be selfish and want to have a beautiful animal to lock it up or make it spend a tragic life with us.
